"MEA Has Taken Proactive Steps": Delhi High Court Disposes Of Widowed Mother's Plea Seeking Directions To Get Visa, Medical Assistance For Critical Son Abroad

Recording the submissions of Ministry of External Affairs that it has taken proactive steps in the matter, the Delhi High Court on Friday disposed of the plea filed by a widowed mother and another relative seeking directions on the Ministry of External Affairs for facilitating them in getting visa from the Australian High Commission for her critical son abroad and also to supervise and provide medical assistance to him.

A single judge bench comprising of Justice Navin Chawla disposed of the plea after observing thus:

"I find that the respondent is taking proactive steps in the matter. Accordingly, the present petition is disposed of granting liberty to the petitioners to file afresh, in case need so arises in the future."

During the previous course of hearing, the Centre through Ministry of External Affairs had informed the Court that earnest efforts are being made to pursue the request of the widowed mother for facilitating them in getting visa from the Australian High Commission for her critical son abroad and also to supervise and provide medical assistance to him.

Ajay Digpaul, CGSC representing the Union of India apprised the Court that such efforts were being made with the Australian Embassy and even at Australia. It was also submitted that the Centre shall continue with such efforts even more rigorously till the issue is resolved.

Moved through Advocate Gurinder Pal Singh, the plea prays directions on Union of India, through Ministry of External Affairs to extend its good offices and help and facilitate the Petitioners in getting Visa Visitor(Tourist) subclass 600 from the Australian High Commission.

Arshdeep Singh had gone to Australia in 2018 in order to pursue his higher studies and on completion of the same in 2020, he was granted Bridging A Visa pursuance of which he was there since then.

His mother and brother in law, petitioners in the matter, had come to know on June 9 that Arshdeep Singh was admitted as an indoor patient in St. Vincent Hospital, Melbourne since June 8 and is suffering from a life threatening condition i.e. end-stage renal failure requiring dialysis and had nephrotic-range proteinuria with haematuria and that he was at the risk of thrombosis.

In view of this, the Petitioners applied for Visa Visitor (Tourist) Sub-Class 60 on June 11 and submitted their Travel Exemption Approval Form required dueto Covid-19 global pandemic.

However, the mother had also written a letter to the High Commissioner of Australia on June 10 pointing out the critical condition of her son and that the Petitioners wanted to urgently travel to Australia to look after Arshdeep Singh and to provide him with moral support and to take all such appropriate steps for his immediate treatment as required.

"That unfortunately, despite there being extreme urgency, the Petitioners have not heard anything on their visa applications nor has there been any response either from the Australian High Commission in India nor from the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India and other officials." The plea submitted.

Furthermore, it said:

"The Petitioner No.1 is the widowed mother of Arshdeep Singh. She is in great mental strain and is spending every agonising minute wishing to be by the side of her son, to look after him, give him moral support and succor needed by him. Even otherwise, as a mother she is suffering every moment worrying and praying for his son, his health and his life and wants to be by his side."

Title: MRS INDERJEET KAUR & ANR. v. UNION OF INDIA 

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